Help For Joel Bennett
Donation protected
My name is Marcy; my sister Robin and I are starting this campaign to help my brother, Joel Bennett and his family during this very difficult time.
On August 1, 2016, Joel suffered a brain bleed from a ruptured blood vessel, and required emergency surgery at Windsor Regional Hospital, Oulette Campus. He was kept heavily sedated to allow his brain time to heal,on a ventilator because his airway was compromised, on a feeding tube, and had no movement from his left side. He was admitted to the ICU following his emergency surgery where he spent the next 35 days. Due to being on the ventilator, Joel developed a chest infection; as a result, it was necessary to do a tracheostemy. So on Aug 14, 2016, Joel went back into surgeryto have a trach put in; although Joel was difficult to trach, the surgery was a success. However, with that success came another challenge. The feeding tube he had put in during his original surgery had to be removed to put the trach in, and because of the swelling, they were unable to get another feeding tube in. For three days Joel had no nutrition. Then the doctors chose to start giving total nutrition through his PIC line, directly into his veins. We were very grateful that yet again, the team at Windsor Regional Hospital had been able to come up with a solution. Over the next 14 days, Joel was weaned down on the oxygen and sedation he was receiving. Physio started working with him, his chest infection cleared up, his trach was downsized. Joel proved to everyone what a fighter he is, and that he was still able to communicate by writing messages and relaying his needs by using a paper and pen. However, throughout this entire process, there is still some question regarding the deficits Joel will have with his left side. On Sept 4, 2016, Joel was finally moved from the ICU to a medical floor because he was finally stable and his medical needs were more easily managed.
Throughtout this entire time period, Joel's wife Kim and their 11 year old daughter Rori, were by his side daily. That meant daily trips from Wallaceburg to Windsor and home because Kim continued to work. It also meant trying to arrange rides back and forth because the week before Joel's health issue, Kim was hospitalized for a heart attack, which meant shewas not able to drive. It also meant arranging Kim's appointments at a time that would allow her to take care of herself and still see Joel.
Joel has been moved back to the Chatham Kent Health Alliance which means he is closer to home, but Kim and Rori still have to travel daily to see him, pay for parking, and anticipate his needs now and when he come home. And because Joel is not working, the family income has been affected.
I have heard Kim say several times that she is appreciative of all the support, love and prayers offered by the family and friends they have been surrounded by during this very difficult time.
We have been told that Joel's recovery will be a very long process. I know that Joel, Kim, and Rori would be be very grateful for any and all support. And it would mean the world to Robin and I to see my amazing brother, sister-in-law, and niece get a break and have at least a few minutes where they did not have to worry.
Joel is a fighter and will make it through this!
Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this and choosing to help!
On August 1, 2016, Joel suffered a brain bleed from a ruptured blood vessel, and required emergency surgery at Windsor Regional Hospital, Oulette Campus. He was kept heavily sedated to allow his brain time to heal,on a ventilator because his airway was compromised, on a feeding tube, and had no movement from his left side. He was admitted to the ICU following his emergency surgery where he spent the next 35 days. Due to being on the ventilator, Joel developed a chest infection; as a result, it was necessary to do a tracheostemy. So on Aug 14, 2016, Joel went back into surgeryto have a trach put in; although Joel was difficult to trach, the surgery was a success. However, with that success came another challenge. The feeding tube he had put in during his original surgery had to be removed to put the trach in, and because of the swelling, they were unable to get another feeding tube in. For three days Joel had no nutrition. Then the doctors chose to start giving total nutrition through his PIC line, directly into his veins. We were very grateful that yet again, the team at Windsor Regional Hospital had been able to come up with a solution. Over the next 14 days, Joel was weaned down on the oxygen and sedation he was receiving. Physio started working with him, his chest infection cleared up, his trach was downsized. Joel proved to everyone what a fighter he is, and that he was still able to communicate by writing messages and relaying his needs by using a paper and pen. However, throughout this entire process, there is still some question regarding the deficits Joel will have with his left side. On Sept 4, 2016, Joel was finally moved from the ICU to a medical floor because he was finally stable and his medical needs were more easily managed.
Throughtout this entire time period, Joel's wife Kim and their 11 year old daughter Rori, were by his side daily. That meant daily trips from Wallaceburg to Windsor and home because Kim continued to work. It also meant trying to arrange rides back and forth because the week before Joel's health issue, Kim was hospitalized for a heart attack, which meant shewas not able to drive. It also meant arranging Kim's appointments at a time that would allow her to take care of herself and still see Joel.
Joel has been moved back to the Chatham Kent Health Alliance which means he is closer to home, but Kim and Rori still have to travel daily to see him, pay for parking, and anticipate his needs now and when he come home. And because Joel is not working, the family income has been affected.
I have heard Kim say several times that she is appreciative of all the support, love and prayers offered by the family and friends they have been surrounded by during this very difficult time.
We have been told that Joel's recovery will be a very long process. I know that Joel, Kim, and Rori would be be very grateful for any and all support. And it would mean the world to Robin and I to see my amazing brother, sister-in-law, and niece get a break and have at least a few minutes where they did not have to worry.
Joel is a fighter and will make it through this!
Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this and choosing to help!
Organizer
Marcy Bennett
Organizer
Wallaceburg, ON
